Smiles all around as club help dentist’s African dream come true

Teeth are gleaming in Sierra Leone thanks to the Rotary Club of Berkhamsted Bulbourne after they helped a dentist complete his training and set up his own business.

Dentist Harriet Carver met Sierra Leonean Joseph Dumbuya in 2004 when she worked in Freetown.

She introduced him to the Berkhamsted club and, blown away by his personality and dedication, the group decided to fund his training.

Joseph is now one of only seven dentists in Sierra Leone – a country of more than six million people in West Africa.

Rob Ferneyhough, chairman of the rotary’s international committee, said: “We were so lucky that Harriet Carver gave us the introduction to such an impressive and committed person as Joseph.

“I’m sure he has a successful career ahead of him as he applies his new skills in an area of great need.

“We all wish him the best of luck and will be keeping in touch with his progress.”

Joseph’s dream was to set up a clinic in Freetown but he needed some help to fund a degree at a dental school in Hungary.

Between 2010 and 2015, the support from Rotary amounted to £11,500.

Joseph has now graduated as a doctor of dental medicine and will start practising in Freetown from September.

Harriet, who works at the Admiral House Dental Surgery, got in touch with the Rotary club and with the help of specialist charity Dentaid, they have provided an invaluable wheelie bin full of essentials for Joseph.

It contains a portable dental chair and all the key dental equipment needed for basic treatment or emergencies.